UK PM to Suspend Parliament; Queen's Speech

Queen’s Speech: invest in NHS,
attack violent crime, cut the cost of living

The
Prime Minister has announced plans to bring forward a new
bold and ambitious legislative agenda: helping the NHS,
fighting violent crime, investing in infrastructure and
science and cutting the cost of living.

The Prime
Minister has briefed Cabinet colleagues that the government
will bring forward an ambitious new legislative programme
for MPs’ approval, and that the current parliamentary
session will be brought to an end.

The Prime Minister has
spoken to Her Majesty The Queen to request an end to the
current parliamentary session in the second sitting week in
September. Following the conclusion of the traditional party
conference season, the second session of this Parliament
will commence with a Queen’s Speech on Monday 14
October.

A central feature of the legislative programme
will be the Government’s number one legislative priority -
if a new deal is forthcoming at European Council - to
introduce a Withdrawal Agreement Bill and move at pace to
secure its passage before 31 October.

The decision to end
the current parliamentary session - the longest in close to
400 years and in recent months one of the least active -
will enable the Prime Minister to put a fresh domestic
programme in front of MPs for debate and scrutiny while also
ensuring that there is good time before and after the
European Council for Parliament to further consider Brexit
issues. Votes on the Queen’s Speech are likely to fall on
Monday 21 and Tuesday 22 October.

Through a Queen’s
Speech, the government will seek to strengthen public
services, improve infrastructure and connectivity across the
country, tackle crime and enhance the integrity of the
criminal justice system, while protecting our natural
environment for the long-term.

The Prime Minister
said:

"We must focus on crucial public priorities -
helping the NHS, fighting violent crime, investing in
infrastructure and science and cutting the cost of
living.

"We have made an important start – funding for
20,000 extra police officers and new investment in our NHS
– but to deliver on the public’s priorities we require a
new session and a Queen’s Speech.

I believe it is vital
that Parliament is sitting both before and after European
Council and if, as I hope, a deal with the EU is
forthcoming, Parliament will then have the opportunity to
pass the Withdrawal Agreement Bill required for ratification
ahead of 31
October."

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